After an eight-year hiatus from the section championships, No. 2 seeded Maxwell made its return this season and claimed the Northern Section CIF Division VII title with a straight set 25-19, 25-23, 25-16 win over its Five-Star League rival No. 8 Chester on Saturday at Red Bluff High School.
Although the Volcanoes had handed the Panthers a loss in a close match on Oct. 14, Maxwell exacted its revenge Nov. 6, when it mattered most, to win the biggest game of the season.
While it was a competitive contest throughout, the Panthers had a clear advantage from the service line, where they delivered 11 aces and otherwise kept Chester out of system and scrambling to mount any kind of effective return on the ball.
According to coach Ashley Krug, it was the strongest she’d seen her team perform from the line this year.
“It was by far our most aggressive serving of the season, and it was definitely the difference today,” said the second-year head coach.
Although it was a total team effort, the play and leadership of Paige Vierra stood out, as the senior captain accounted for 14 assists, eight kills, and five aces, while rallying her teammates when her team was facing a deficit.
Vierra additionally closed out the first set with six straight serving points, and the second one as well with one of her five aces.
However, the Panthers had others step up as well, starting with sophomore Emma Hendrix, who had a team-high nine kills to go along with eight assists and three aces.
Maxwell’s back row also performed admirably, fighting off the Volcano attack behind a game-high 25 digs from sophomore Bailee Haywood, and 17 more from senior Perla Herrera.
Junior Jocelyn Lazarus likewise made noteworthy contributions, tallying seven digs and five kills.
For the Panthers, who started the season with a great deal of uncertainty, the win validated their continued commitment to the program, as Krug explained.
“Losing some great players last year was a little nerve wracking since it was uncertain if others would rise to the occasion and fill those spots, but they have done an amazing job,” Krug said. “The girls have worked hard all year at practice and learned to communicate on the court, but I am most proud of their teamwork and great attitudes.”
To get to the title match, Maxwell first defeated No. 7 Happy Camp, relying on its JV call-ups due to a scheduling conflict that saw six varsity players in Indianapolis at the National FFA Convention, and then dismissed No. 6 Princeton in the semi-final round.
Even though last Saturday’s match marked the end of the season for the Panthers (18-5), as the newly minted Division VII champions, it was a significant accomplishment and bodes well for the future as they lose just four players to graduation. ■